John
Conlee is a country music icon and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opr
y since 1981. During John Conlee’s near 40 year career in Country Music\,
he has brought to audiences such classic songs as his signature song\, Rose Colored Glasses\, Friday Night Blues\, Backside of 30\
, Common Man\, Miss Emily’s Picture\, I Don’t Rememb
er Lovin’ You\, and more.

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Overall\, there have been over 30 s
ingle releases throughout the years with 26 of them charting in the top 20
or better. Eight of those 26 have reached the coveted No. 1 spot on the n
ational country charts.

Three of country music’s s
hining female stars hit the road together this fall\, stopping in Clayton
with their Chicks With Hits tour. Nashville divas Terri Clark\, Pam Tillis
and Suzy Bogguss perform their guitar-pull style acoustic show and come t
ogether to play your favorite hit songs from their legendary careers. Comb
ined\, these mighty musical ladies have more awards and nominations than w
e can count\, and all are members of the Grand Ole Opry. Don’t miss this c
hance to see them live at The Clayton Center.\n

What began as an experiment— tr
ying out a wide range of new songs and styles with a fresh approach to sin
ging — has become a successful full-blown tour for Grammy winner Kathy Mat
tea and her long-time guitarist\, collaborator and friend Bill Cooley. The
Acoustic Living Room Tour brings this dynamic musical duo together for an
evening of great songs and great stories in a simple\, relaxed performanc
e that spotlights the pair’s acoustic guitar chops and Kathy’s lithe\, exp
ressive vocal style.

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Sit back and enjoy Kathy’s beloved classics s
uch as “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses\,” “Where’ve You Been?” and many other
hits\, plus a handful of more eclectic and often requested tunes from her
extensive catalogue\, and a sprinkling of brand new material\, all reinte
rpreted for this new format.

Who are as handsome\, witty and as talented as the the day is long? The
Celtic Tenors that’s who! We love these guys…and you will\, too!

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C
elebrate the holidays with your family and friends and our favorite Irishm
en — Daryl\, James and Matthew — as they entertain you with skillful and a
rtistic renditions of Irish folk standards\, fun and energetic pop favorit
es and classic Christmas tunes. Enjoy a thoroughly uplifting evening of wo
rld-class music delivered with the endearing charm of The Celtic Tenors.
p>\n

The Celtic Tenors have captivated audiences around the world since
their arrival on the music scene in 2000. What began as three very talent
ed friends gathering on the operatic stage has since exploded into an inte
rnational recording and touring phenomenon that transcends the trio’s clas
sical roots and embraces folk\, pop and various other dimensions of the mu
sical spectrum.

The Johnston County Chorale presents thei
r 2017 holiday concert “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year\,” on Saturday
\, December 16\, at 2 pm and 7 pm. Special guests include students from th
e Artistry in Motion Dance Studio. Enjoy your favorite holiday tunes\, and
look for a visit from Santa Claus.

The Johnston County Chorale presents thei
r 2017 holiday concert “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year\,” on Saturday
\, December 16\, at 2 pm and 7 pm. Special guests include students from th
e Artistry in Motion Dance Studio. Enjoy your favorite holiday tunes\, and
look for a visit from Santa Claus.

Singer-songwriter and recording artist Carrie Newcomer has been des
cribed as a ”soaring songstress” by Billboard and a “prairie myst
ic” by the Boston Globe. The Austin Statesman described
her as having “a voice as rich as Godiva chocolate\,” and Rolling Ston
e once said\, she “asks all the right questions.” Most simply put\,
the Dallas Morning News said\, “she’s the kind of artist whose mu
sic makes you stop\, think and then say\, ‘that is so true.’”

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She
was listed as one of the “50 most influential folk musicians of the past 5
0 years” by Chicago’s WFMT\, and Boston’s WBEZ listed her as one of the mo
st influential folk artists of the last 25 years. She has toured with Alis
on Krauss\, and Nickel Creek recorded Newcomer’s song “I Should’ve Known B
etter” on their Grammy-winning album This Side.\n

If you like cornbread and hush puppi
es\, you are going to love the Malpass Brothers. With sincerity\, honesty
and an utter ease on stage that belies their years\, the Malpass Brothers’
smooth vocal blend and skillful musicianship layer into the deep respect
they pay to legends who came before them.

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As young boys\, Christop
her and Taylor soaked up the music of their granddad’s phonograph records.
Christopher earned his first talent show trophy at age 7\, and Taylor was
playing mandolin by the time he was 10. Today\, they promote the work and
music of classic country artists they treasure while creating new music a
nd making their own mark in the lineage of a rich American cultural herita
ge.

The Johnston County Chorale performs in its spring 2018 conc
ert\, “Made in the USA.” The chorale presents your favorite music of Ameri
can Band Stand\, country and gospel\, with a patriotic finale and a specia
l salute to the troops. Tickets on sale beginning Monday\, April 2\, at 10
AM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. A group
rate is available.

Like his
trademark suit\, David Myles music is timeless. From soulful\, contemporar
y pop crooners to delicate\, jazzy folk ditties\, from down-home\, back po
rch roots tunes to infectious hip-hop earworms\, this Juno Award winner’s
only artistic constants are his always growing\, shape-shifting songwritin
g\, and his exceptional ability to entertain.

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David effortlessly i
njects any song with his irresistible energy\, which has led him to numero
us collaborations – with a Latin Grammy winner to a world-renowned opera d
iva to a Canadian hip hop star. His endearing live charm\, coupled with an
uplifting sense of humor\, has gained David an increasingly large fanbase
\, and afforded him frequent festival appearances.

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Hovering somewh
ere around a magic spot between James Taylor and Justin Timberlake\, David
’s diverse set of musical tools has garnered a staggering number of presti
gious nominations and awards. He has earned a reputation as a great showma
n\, and his flawless musicianship and unforgettable stories have made him
a favorite with fans everywhere.

Three of the vo
ices that defined 90s country music – Sammy Kershaw\, Aaron Tippin
a> and Collin Raye – join forces
in the Roots & Boots tour. Comb
ined\, the trio has amassed more than 40 Top 10 radio smash hits and sold
more than 25 million albums. Don’t miss these iconic country artists as th
ey come together to swap stories and perform their classic songs all on on
e stage.

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Reserved seating for this
show is SOLD OUT. Please call the Box Office at 919-553-1737 or email eve
ntinfo@townofclaytonnc.org for information about this show or to be added
to a waiting list should seats become available. Stan
ding Room Only tickets are available for this show for $25\, plus tax
& fees.

Royal Wood\, Canadian singer\,
songwriter\, multi-instrumentalist and producer\, has established himself
as a true musical talent. Since being proclaimed “Songwriter of the Ye
ar” by iTunes\, Wood has continued to evolve and hone his musical craft –
maintaining an unmistakable identity while uncovering and reinventing his
sound.

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Wood has two albums that have debuted in the Top 30\, multi
ple JUNO nominations\, 2-time Canadian Folk Music Award-nominee\, and a #1
added song at Hot AC radio. His songs have been heard on high profile syn
c placements like Grey’s Anatomy\, and Private Practice.
Witness a night with this charming musical talent. $18

Tickets on sale October 1 at 10 AM.

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Enjoy an old-fa
shioned Christmas show the way they used to be. Sing along to all of your
favorite songs of the season\, plus enjoy comedy\, carols and a sing-along
. The show features the Around Town Singers and a 25-piece orchestra\, plu
s special guests that you won’t want to miss. Follow A Clayton Christmas <
a href='http://www.AClaytonChristmas.com'>blog for details of this fam
ily-friendly show and performers.

\n

Tickets are $18\, plus sales tax
and fees. A group discount is available for groups of 10 or more.

The Fabulous Equinox Orches
tra swings back through Clayton with a holiday show guaranteed to brighten
the season. Enjoy holiday classics – along with your favorite American st
andards – presented with the charm and extraordinary jazz musicianship of
Jeremy Davis\, Clay Johnson and the Equinox Orchestra. $35

Tickets on sale October 1 at 10 AM.

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The Johnst
on County Chorus presents A Christmas Spectacular\, its annual ho
liday show featuring all of your favorite seasonal songs and skits. Specia
l guests this year include dancers from Artistry in Motion dance studio.
p>\n

Tickets on sale October 1 at 10 AM.

\n

The Johnst
on County Chorus presents A Christmas Spectacular\, its annual ho
liday show featuring all of your favorite seasonal songs and skits. Specia
l guests this year include dancers from Artistry in Motion dance studio.
p>\n

North Carolina based song
stress Yolanda Rabun is a fierce performer whose versatility allows her to
master all styles of music. Her shows are engaging\, full of passion\, an
d include straight-ahead and contemporary jazz\, blues\, folk\, pop and ev
en gospel. A skilled singer with a natural storytelling instinct\, Yolanda
will WOW you with her boundless energy\, inventiveness and commanding voc
al power. $22

Mac Powell grew up in a small town in Alabama. His love for music
began at an early age as both of his parents would sing and play guitar a
round the house. Mac soon began to sing in the local country church by day
\, and listen to his Dad’s record collection by night.

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When Mac wa
s a sophomore in high school\, he moved to Atlanta\, GA\, where his passio
n for music and faith found an outlet in the band THIRD DAY. Over the past
25 years\, THIRD DAY has helped transform Christian music and built a dev
oted fan base while traveling the world many times over\, selling 10 milli
on albums\, earning 4 Grammy awards\, 1 American Music Award\, 24 Dove Awa
rds\, and by being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

\n

A
long the way\, Mac has been honored to perform in front of millions of fan
s around the world and play music with some of the best musicians in the i
ndustry. Many of these acquaintances both onstage and in the crowd have tu
rned from friends into true family members\, and now it’s time for a good
old fashioned Family Reunion!

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MAC POWELL and the FAMILY REUNION of
ficially started in early 2018 as the next chapter of Mac’s musical journe
y. The Family Reunion is a band that has developed over the past several y
ears from the musical “brothers” that have been recording and playing live
with Mac in support of his first two independent solo projects.

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T
he Southern roots – American rock collections are foot-stompin’\, hand cla
ppin’ tunes – clearly pay tribute to the early musical inspirations from h
is childhood. The live show is a blend of classic and sing along Gospel\,
Country\, and American Rock songs\, combined with some Mac’s favorite THIR
D DAY numbers that he has written\, and his latest original tunes.

Lee Roy Parnell returns\,
bringing his “soulful vocal delivery and blistering array of guitar chops\
,” to the stage. The multiple Grammy Award nominee is widely recognized as
one of the best slide guitar players on the planet. Don’t miss this chanc
e to see Lee Roy live as he performs his brand of Texas blues\, Memphis so
ul\, and Southern rock. $25

The Johnston County Chorus is busy re
hearsing for their upcoming spring concert at the Clayton Center. The show
will feature more than 60 singers and a live band presenting movie classi
cs through the years. Two shows: a 2 PM matinee and 7 PM.

The Johnston County Chorus is busy re
hearsing for their upcoming spring concert at the Clayton Center. The show
will feature more than 60 singers and a live band presenting movie classi
cs through the years. Two shows: a 2 PM matinee and 7 PM.

Main Street\, USA feat
ures 90 minutes of great music from the 50s\, 60s\, and 70s by your Around
Town Singers and Orchestra. The show celebrates the return of great littl
e Main Streets all across the nation. You’ll be peering down a replica of
none other than Main Street Clayton as you enjoy and sing along with such
great songs as Locomotion\, One Fine Day\, Rose Gar
den\, My Guy\, Downtown\, and many more. If you enjoyed Mamma Mi
a\, you’ll really enjoy our show-within-a-show inside a re-creation o
f Jones Cafe with Special Guests that you won’t want to miss and our energ
etic Around Town Dancers. Get ready to sing your favorites! Visit www.MainStreetUSAShow.com for the l
atest information.

CANTON CAJO JONES i
s a singer\, rapper\, songwriter\, producer\, vocal arranger\, youth pasto
r and entrepreneur\, as well as a dedicated husband and father of 4.

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Canton Jones is a Deerfield Beach\, FL\, native\, currently residing in
Atlanta\, GA. He has ministered to and performed in front of millions of
people during his career as a music artist. Since beginning his career and
ministry\, Canton Jones has released numerous albums which include 20
Years\, 3 Months\, & 12 Days…..\, Love Jones\, The Pass
word: Access Granted\, Kingdom Business Parts 1-4\,Domi
nionaire\, Dominionaire Remixed\, Go Mode\, Lus
t\, Drugs\, and Gospel\, and Godcity.

Serves Georgia school systems by speaking and mi
nistering in song to elementary through high school students

\n

Ser
ves troubled youth by speaking and ministering in song to juvenile centers
and at risk high schools.

\n

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The most important mission for
Canton Jones is to clearly and adequately relay the message behind the mus
ic – the uninhibited Word of God. As a Youth Pastor at New Hope Church in
Fayetteville\, GA\, Canton Jones is given the opportunity to hear and see
what young people deal with on a daily basis. He is then able to speak mus
ically to that generation in a way that they can incorporate God’s Word in
to their own lives. Canton ministers with conviction and transparency\, wh
ich always proves to be effective on any platform.

The Clayton Center welcomes country musi
c torchbearer Marty Stuart as he celebrates the 20th anniversary of his ic
onic album The Pilgrim. While he’s too gracious to admit it himse
lf\, the GRAMMY Award-winning singer\, songwriter\, and musician is living
\, breathing country music history. Join Marty Stuart as he shares through
story and song his remarkable life.

\n

Throughout his career\, Stuar
t has played alongside the masters\, from Cash to Lester Flatt\; he’s been
a worldwide ambassador for Nashville\, Bakersfield and points in between\
; and he’s safeguarded country’s most valuable traditions and physical art
ifacts\, including its literal shoes: Stuart counts the brogan of Carter F
amily patriarch A.P. Carter and an assortment of Cash’s black boots among
his vast collection of memorabilia.

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But most importantly\, Stuart
continues to record and release keenly relevant music — records that honor
country’s rich legacy while advancing it into the future. But this year\,
Stuart is looking to the past for inspiration. Twenty years after its ori
ginal release\, Stuart is breathing new life into his 1999 concept album\,
The Pilgrim. Hailed by critics as a showcase of Stuart’s incred
ible songwriting and instrumental skills\, The Pilgrim is a tale
of a love triangle replete with marital infidelity\, soul searching and re
demption — all the ingredients for classic country success.

\n<
p>Carol Sloane recorded her first
album for Columbia Records in 1961 and began a successful career appearin
g in the top jazz clubs in America. She made her New York debut opening fo
r Oscar Peterson at the famed Village Vanguard. She was also the opening a
ct for Woody Allen\, Lenny Bruce\, Jackie Mason\, Phyllis Diller and Bill
Cosby in such places as Mr. Kelly’s in Chicago and the “hungry i” in San F
rancisco.\n

Sloane’s extensive discography attests to her long assoc
iation with major recording labels in the U.S. Among the great musicians w
ith whom she has recorded are Art Farmer\, Kenny Barron\, Phil Woods\, Bil
l Charlap\, Frank Wess\, Kenny Burrell\, Clark Terry\, Bill Mays\, Houston
Person and Tommy Flanagan. She has appeared at Carnegie Hall\, Alice Tull
y Hall\, Avery Fisher Hall and Town Hall and The Kaplan Penthouse at Linco
ln Center. She also has toured Japan extensively as part of The Concord Ja
zz Festival and has appeared around the globe including Canada\, the UK\,
Spain\, Brazil\, Portugal and The North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlan
ds.

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Sloane’s New York jazz club engagements include The Village Va
nguard and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola\, The Jazz Standard and Birdland.

\n<
p>Sloane was off the scene for years\, but she is back and sounding as won
derful as ever. Her concerts\, club performances and master classes contin
ue to be rich\, living pathways into the music and stories beautifully sha
red from a life well sung.\n

Please note: This is an exclusive engag
ement of The Clayton Center and is not a part of the Palladian Series. Tic
kets to this event must be purchased separately.

Join Johnston County native
Jonathan Levin and the Clayton
Piano Festival in commemorating and celebrating the Town of Clayton’s
150th birthday.

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Clayton Piano Festival pres
ents the final performance of its 8th season at The Clayton Center. Hosted
by special guest performer\, 2019 Miss America Nia Franklin\, the program
includes multiple performers and genres on piano\, voice and strings\, in
terspersed with poetry and short documentary film clips that capture the p
eople and influences in the area. The program will follow a narrative whic
h presents many of the themes of life in Clayton and Johnston County from
years past to the present day. A reception is included.

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Tickets to
this event are $20 for adults and $10 for students 18 and under\, plus sa
les tax & fees.

\n

Note: This is an exclusi
ve engagement of The Clayton Center and is not a part of the Palladian Ser
ies. Tickets to this event must be purchased separate from the Palladian S
eries.

“Noche Gaitera 2019” is an event whe
re the beginning of the Christmas season is celebrated and it is a Venezue
lan tradition\, the quatrist\, composer and singer Rafael “Pollo” Brito wi
ll be presented next to the gaitera group “Proyecto Pentagrama”\, and havi
ng the regional group of Latin music “Son Latinos”. The Christmas Gaitas o
r Venezuelan Gaitas is a musical genre that has its origin in the Zulia st
ate of Venezuela\, therefore it is part of the traditions of the Zulia sta
te\, in addition to its cultural relevance it was declared as a heritage a
sset of cultural and artistic interest of Venezuela\, since it spread thro
ughout the national territory and even reached international relevance.

Tone deaf as a child\, Doolittle’s
choir teacher would plead with her not to sing\, but just silently move h
er mouth. Undaunted\, her love of singing drove her to enter a talent show
in the seventh grade where she stunned the audience with her miraculously
spot on vocals and beautiful voice. She never looked back!

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After
graduating with a music degree from Belmont University in Nashville\, Dool
ittle became a highly sought after background vocalist singing for musical
icons including Michael McDonald\, Aretha Franklin\, BeBe and CeCe Winans
\, Aaron Neville and Jonny Lang.

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Doolittle became a household name
during season six of American Idol in 2007. Although she came in third in
the voting\, she was first with Simon Cowell\, who called her his “person
al favorite.” She became the sweetheart of the season\, winning over the h
earts of all with her stunning powerhouse vocals and her personal charm.
p>\n

In 2009\, Doolittle released her debut album Coming Back to You
\, which garnered rave reviews from critics\, including The New Y
ork Times\, which hailed her as one of the most “phenomenally gifted”
singers in years. In 2013\, she released her sophomore album You’re T
he Reason. Between her album releases\, she penned her book Beyon
d Me: Finding Your Way to Life’s Next Level. Doolittle was also the w
ell-loved co-host of TV Line’s Reality Check.

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Doolittle c
ontinues to thrill audiences everywhere from the Rock and Rock Hall of Fam
e to The White House\, from the Copa Room to Carnegie Hall. In addition\,
she has been a featured guest with the Boston Pops\, Charlotte Symphony an
d United States Air Force Orchestra to name a few\, and was a featured per
former at the 2015 Boston Pops Fourth of July Spectacular. She is
currently headlining her own soulful show Great American Soul Book.

Enjoy
a 90-minute Christmas show with all your favorite holiday songs! Performe
d by the Around Town Singers and Orchestra\, plus special guests Sophie Co
llins\, Jennifer Jarvis\, the Burnett Sisters Band\, and many more! Featur
ing a 20-piece orchestra and the Around Town Dancers\, too! This is a Chri
stmas show the way they used to be! Visit the ATSO blog for the latest information.

Sing along to all of your holiday favorites\,
and enjoy performances by special guests from Stage Door Dance Production
s\, the Four Oaks Elementary Cardinal Choir and soloist Tyler Dean. Tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under\
, plus sales tax and fees. A group rate is available for groups of 8 or mo
re.

Sing along to all of your holiday favorites\,
and enjoy performances by special guests from Stage Door Dance Production
s\, the Four Oaks Elementary Cardinal Choir and soloist Tyler Dean. Tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under\
, plus sales tax and fees. A group rate is available for groups of 8 or mo
re.

The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
present I’ve got a little Twist\, a one-of-a-kind show that prove
s the Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire is as fun\, fresh and full-of-life as
three little maids from school!

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I’ve got a little Twist i
s where The Mikado meets The Music Man\, where the H
MS Pinafore sets sail for Brigadoon\, and where The Pira
tes of Penzance take shore leave On the Town. In short\, it’
s where Broadway meets Gilbert & Sullivan.

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See for yourself as New
York Gilbert & Sullivan Players celebrates the legacy of Gilbert & Sulliv
an in American musical theater\, featuring favorites from Rodgers & Hammer
stein\, Bernstein\, Sondheim\, Lerner & Loewe\, Meredith Willson and Jerry
Herman. Life is a cabaret and so is this show — and as we all know\, it’s
always more entertaining when you add a little twist.

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Under the s
upervision of Artistic Director Albert Bergeret\, I’ve Got a Little Tw
ist is written and directed by David Auxier and features Daniel Green
wood\, Sarah Caldwell Smith\, Stephen Quint\, Angela Christine Smith\, Dav
id Wannen and Mr. Auxier. Mark York is the arranger\, musical director and
pianist.

Two recent Palladian Series favorites return to perform in
one exciting and entertaining show. Singer-songwriters Susan Werner and Da
vid Myles take the stage for an engaging evening of eclectic music.

\n<
p>Celebrated performing songwriter Susan Werner has made a name for hersel
f coast to coast. From her 1995 major label folk/rock debut Last of th
e Good Straight Girls to her 2007 collection of agnostic gospel hymns
The Gospel Truth to her 2017 travelogue An American In Havan
a\, Werner writes ambitious concept albums with subject matter and so
unds to match.\n

Spring 2019 brings a fresh set of songs from Werner
\, this time a New Orleans inspired piano throwdown titled NOLA.
One of the few songwriters to have been featured on legendary Marian McPar
tland’s NPR Piano Jazz\, Werner indulges her considerable piano c
hops with riffs and grooves reminiscent of Dr. John\, James Booker\, Profe
ssor Longhair and Allen Toussaint.

This past year he relea
sed Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo\, a children’s book based on hi
s beloved modern holiday classic\, and dove back into the world of public
radio\, broadcasting his smooth baritone over Alberta’s CKUA airwaves on h
is new show Myles From Home. Not to mention he does it all while
adhering to an unrelenting tour schedule that has seen him and comrades Ky
le Cunjak (bass) and Alan Jeffries (guitar) grace stages around the world.

We’re at it ag
ain…The Clayton Center’s FACEBOOK LIVE series goes on this Wednesday\, Ma
y 6\, at 7 PM.

\n

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This week’s livestream features local southern rock and
country duo Rebel’s Fox.

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Join us on our Facebook Live page at 7
PM and connect with our community of local music lovers. The live stream i
s free\, but we ask that you support our artists through their personal Ti
p Jar via VENMO: @Stephanie-lynn-112